The future of Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge has been a cause of concern on Teesside since its closure in 2019 following the discovery of serious structural issues.
Middlesbrough Council today assured Teessiders there were no plans to demolish the iconic structure. However, the full cost of repairs is expected to run into millions.
A Middlesbrough Council spokesperson told TUXtra: “We’re happy to say there are no plans to demolish the Transporter.
“Following the discovery of some serious structural issues, the process of repair and restoration on such an old and complex piece of machinery is both long and costly.
“Following the completion of a detailed structural survey, digital monitoring is now in place which will provide essential data for the future management and maintenance of the bridge and surrounding area.
“A Principal Designer is due to be appointed in the very near future, with further detailed design work to be undertaken over the next 12 to 18 months and overall reconstruction work expected to take between 3 and 5 years.”
The council confirmed that the Tees Valley Combined Authority has undertaken to fund the repairs to reopen the bridge.
Built in 1911 by Sir William Arrol & Co, the bridge has been a key part of Middlesbrough for over a century,
It connects Middlesbrough on the south bank to Port Clarence on the north bank.
Before it had to close in July 2019 due to safety concerns, it transported a suspended gondola across the river in 90 seconds and carried two hundred people and nine cars as part of the A178.
The Transporter is a rare type of bridge, with fewer than two dozen built across the planet and only twelve that continue to be used today. When it was working, Teesside’s Transporter was the largest of its kind and an icon of Teesside, even forming Middlesbrough Council’s logo.
It is a Grade II listed building with special architectural and historic interest.
According to a Middlesbrough Council report in 2020, it costs £120,000 a year just to maintain the bridge. This includes staff and running costs – but not any additional repairs found in the structural survey.
